Pentas plant named ‘PEZZ0003’

ABSTRACT

A new  Pentas  plant named ‘PEZZ0003’ particularly distinguished by the large sized corymbs with medium red-purple colored flowers, dark yellow-green foliage, vigorous and upright habit with strong branches, and tolerates hot, summer conditions.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Pentas lanceolata.

Varietal denomination: ‘PEZZ0003’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Pentas, botanically known as Pentas lanceolata, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PEZZ0003’.

‘PEZZ0003’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘PEZZ0003’ has large sized inflorescences with medium red-purple colored flowers, dark yellow-green foliage, vigorous and upright habit with strong branches, and tolerates hot, summer conditions.

‘PEZZ0003’ originates from a hybrid cross made in a breeding program in October 2007 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif. The female parent was an unpatented, proprietary plant identified as ‘206-4’ with cherry colored flowers.

The male parent of ‘PEZZ0003’ was an unpatented, proprietary plant identified as ‘209-2’ with slightly lighter lavender flower color when compared to ‘PEZZ0003’. The resultant seed was sown in May 2008 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif.

‘PEZZ0003’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in September 2008 in Gilroy, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘PEZZ0003’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in September 2008 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in September 2008 in Gilroy, Calif., and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘PEZZ0003’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘PEZZ0003’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in Canada on Nov. 2, 2012 (12-7780). ‘PEZZ0003’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Pentas as a new and distinct variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘PEZZ0003’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type.

The photographic drawing shows two flowering plants of the new variety growing in one container and a close-up of a flower.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The plant descriptions, measurements and photographs were taken in Gilroy, Calif. in mid April 2013 under natural light. These plants were approximately 16-18 weeks old and were grown two plants per one gallon container in a greenhouse trial.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘PEZZ0003’ AND A MOST SIMILAR VARIETY ‘Bismarck Pink’ (U.S. ‘PEZZ0003’ Plant Pat. No. 15,780) Habit: Much more vigorous Less vigorous Leaf size: Larger Smaller Flower color/size: Rose/larger Pink/smaller

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Upright, sturdy and vigorous growth             habit; good heat tolerance with continuous flowering through             summer; well-branched plant habit.         -   Plant height.—20-21.0 cm.         -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—28-29.0 cm.         -   Plant width.—20-25.0 cm. -   Roots:     -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—12-14 days at about 22             degrees C.         -   Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—4-5 weeks at 22             degrees C.         -   Type.—Fine, fibrous, free branching.         -   Color.—RHS N155B but whiter. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Immature leaf, color upper surface.—Closest to RHS 147A;             glossy.         -   Immature leaf, color lower surface.—Closest to RHS 147B.         -   Mature leaf, color upper surface.—Closest to RHS 147A.         -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—Closest to RHS 147B.         -   Length.—10.5-11.3 cm.         -   Width.—4.2-5.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Mostly ovate to somewhat elliptical.         -   Base shape.—Attenuate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture upper side.—Hirsute; rugose.         -   Texture lower side.—Hirsute; rugose.         -   Color of veins, upper surface.—Closest to RHS 144C.         -   Color of veins, lower surface.—Closest to RHS 144C.         -   Pattern of veining.—Pinnate.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 144C.         -   Petiole length.—1.5-2.0 cm.         -   Diameter of petiole.—0.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Hirsute. -   Stem:     -   -   Quantity of branches.—4-5.         -   Color of stem.—Closest to RHS 144A.         -   Length of stem.—14-17 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4-0.5 cm.         -   Length of internodes.—4.0-4.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Hirsute. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 144A.         -   Length of peduncle.—1.5-2.0 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—0.2-0.3 cm.         -   Peduncle texture.—Pilose. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Color of pedicel.—RHS 144A.         -   Length of pedicel.—0.3 cm.         -   Diameter of pedicel.—0.15 cm.         -   Pedicel texture.—Pilose. -   Bud (just before opening):     -   -   Color.—RHS 59D.         -   Length.—2.7-3.1 cm.         -   Width.—0.3-0.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblong. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Terminal corymb; but more umbel looking.         -   Natural flowering.—Late spring and summer, flowers             continuously.         -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—5-8 with open flowers;             2-3 immature with just buds.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—9-11.0 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—About 5.0 cm. -   Corolla:     -   -   Form.—Single, tubular-shaped flowers consisting of a single             whorl of 5 pointed petals fused at the base; aspect, flat;             very free flowering.         -   Lastingness of individual flowers.—About 3-4 weeks depending             on temperature.         -   Diameter of floret.—2.2-2.4 cm.         -   Depth of floret.—3.0-3.3 cm.         -   Immature.—Color upper petals, upper surface: Closest to and             between RHS N66A and RHS 66B. Color upper petals, lower             surface: Between RHS 186B and RHS 186C.         -   Mature.—Color upper petals, upper surface: Closest to and             between RHS 61C with some a lighter shade. Color upper             petals, lower surface: Between RHS 186B and RHS 186C.         -   Length petals.—0.9-1.0 cm.         -   Width of petals.—0.5-0.6 cm.         -   Petal shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Petal texture, upper surface.—Papillose.         -   Petal texture, lower surface.—Papillose, with some hairs             down the midvein.         -   Corolla tube color, inside.—Lighter than RHS 186C.         -   Corolla tube color, outside.—Between RHS 186B and RHS 186C.         -   Corolla tube length.—2.3-2.5 from the throat opening.         -   Corolla tube diameter.—0.15 cm.         -   Corolla tube texture, inside.—Very hirsute at throat with             hairs running the length of the tube.         -   Corolla tube texture, outside.—Hirsute.         -   Corolla throat diameter.—0.5 cm. -   Calyx:     -   -   Number of sepals.—5.         -   Color of sepals.—Closest to RHS 147A.         -   Length of sepals.—0.6-0.7 cm.         -   Width of sepals.—0.15-0.2.         -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margins.—Entire, where not fused.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous, with hairs at the margins.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Hirsute. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: 1. Length: About 3.0 cm. Style color: RHS             155C. Style length: 2.7-3.3 cm. Stigma color: Closest to RHS             75D. Sigma type: Bi-parted; very pubescent. Ovary color:             Closest to RHS N144A. Ovary length: 0.15 cm. Ovary diameter:             0.15 cm.         -   Androecium.—Number of stamens: 5, with filaments fused to             the corolla wall. Anther color: RHS 197B. Length of anthers:             0.2 cm. Color of pollen: RHS 155A. Pollen amount: Normal. -   Fertility/seed set: Has not been determined to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: Has not been determined to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Pentas plant named ‘PEZZ0003’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 